Tourist Buses to be Banned in Paris

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. crisscross / ˈkrɪsˌkrɔs / (v) – to travel from one side of a place to another and back again multiple times
    Example:

    Thousands of tourists crisscross the city to see different landmarks.


  2. outskirts / ˈaʊtˌskɜrts / (n) – the areas outside the center of a city
    Example:

    I don’t like busy streets, so I chose to live in the outskirts of the city.


  3. crackdown / ˈkrækˌdaʊn / (n) – the implementation of strict rules or law meant to fix a problem
    Example:

    Local authorities ordered a crackdown on illegal parking starting this summer.


  4. nip (something) in the bud / nɪp ɪn ðə bʌd / (idiom) – to deal with something in its early stages to prevent it from becoming worse
    Example:

    The government built trains in the city to nip traffic in the bud.


  5. bring about (something) / brɪŋ əˈbaʊt / (phrasal) – to cause something to happen
    Example:

    The recent flow of tourists brought about traffic and pollution.


Article

Read the text below.

The local government of Paris, France, is planning to ban tourist buses from entering the city center because of overtourism concerns.


The buses crisscross Paris’s city center every day to transport tourists to major landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre / ˈlu vər / Museum. With the bus ban, buses will no longer be allowed to take their usual routes and can only drive up to designated parking areas on the outskirts of the city.


For tourists, the bus crackdown means that they will have to walk, cycle, or take public transport from parking areas to the city center. Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire [GRI-gwah] acknowledges that this will be a difficult change for tour guides but said that they must adapt. Instead of bus tours, he urged tour companies and travel operators to do bicycle or walking tours with headphones.


Grégoire added that the ban will make it easier for local authorities to control traffic and to offer other transportation methods like rented bicycles and electric scooters.


The bus ban is part of the local government’s initiative to nip overtourism in the bud. Paris residents have been complaining about the noise, pollution, and traffic brought about by tour buses. Although overtourism in Paris is not as bad as in other European cities, Grégoire said he wants to curb it now.


Tourists responded with displeasure following the announcement of the ban. They said that bus tours are convenient, especially for older tourists and those who only have little time in the city. Some tour companies and travel operators also opposed the ban, saying that it would discourage tourists from visiting Paris.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you agree that the bus ban will discourage tourists from visiting Paris? Why or why not?
• How else can the local government of Paris manage overtourism in the city? Discuss.

Discussion B

• What do you think are some causes of overtourism? Discuss.
• In your opinion, should overtourism be considered an issue? Why or why not?